Camellias in the Window, Portscatho

Winifred Nicholson + the Window (archive)

Oil / Landscape / Still Life

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Course details

This is a unique opportunity to take part in an international online art course with renowned artist Alice Mumford. Capture in oils your own view of the world through your chosen window.

Alice Mumford Warm Midsummer Morning , Polgrean, 1 meter x 1 meter, oil on canvas, 2018-19

In June of this year Alice was due to deliver a course to an artist group on Whidbey Island on the West Coast of America. The St Ives School of Painting has helped Alice to design this bespoke online alternative for four of these artists. Four other places are open to students elsewhere in the world to take part at this introductory rate. She has chosen one of her favourite themes for the course combining the approaches of artist Winifred Nicholson with looking through windows. This will be a fascinating opportunity to learn alongside students from around the world. When we are all spending so much time indoors the view from our window can be a source of comfort and connection to the world. Yours might be a busy urban view or a quiet rural landscape. As students will be joining us from around the world from different time zones we imagine there will also be different times of day captured as well.

The four days will combine live learning via Zoom with Alice and your group with self study time. There will be exercises set by Alice to ensure this time is structured and fruitful. The Zoom session will be recorded and you will have access to these for 6 months after the course. A private Facebook group will be a space for all eight students to connect with each other and share progress during the course.

You will need to gather together your own materials for the course and have access to the internet. We will have staff on hand to assist with your connecting on Zoom. You will receive a comprehensive handbook on setting up ready for the course covering equipment and materials.

Day to day plan

This is a 4 day course and will work best for those that can commit 4 whole days. With a daily live and interactive session with Alice lasting two and a half hours you will then go off to work on your own piece with guidance and direction to follow. If you are based in the UK the self study time will be the following day and the live sessions at the end of the day. All timings are BST (London time).

Day 1

5pm – 7.30pm Alice will connect with the group on Zoom to discuss how Winifred Nicholson uses the colour scale. We then set up a palette together. There will be a live demonstration in the session. You will then have a series of exercises to do in your own time before the next zoom session taken from Winifred Nicholson colour scale.

Day 2

Carry on painting for at least 4 hours working on the exercises from Day 1.

5pm – 7.30pm You will have now spent several hours going through the exercises from the day before and we will regroup on Zoom to see how you have got on. Using the palette from day 1 in this session we approach painting the window and view in different ways on small boards. Continue this exploration until the next session.

Day 3

Carry on painting for at least 4 hours working on the exercises from Day 2 on your small boards .

5pm – 7.30pm Today we take what we have learnt so far and move into a larger scale. Alice will start with a live demonstration.

Day 4

Work on your larger scale painting for at least 4 hours.

5pm – 7.30pm There will be a group session today where Alice will give one to one feedback. She will help you work out what you need to do to resolve and finish your painting.

Day 5

Post your work on your closed Facebook group so you can share with your fellow students.

What will I learn?

Looking through windows has been a subject loved by painters since the Golden age of Dutch painting. There are different approaches to the challenge of this often painted theme. It breaks down into foreground, middle ground and distance. Understanding how this can work in paint is the key.

You will benefit from the wonderful insights of Winifred Nicholson starting with her colour scales. These help us attune to our inner library of colour. By learning how to liberate colour by not worrying about form, discover an approach that could be a game changer for your painting.

Who would this course suit?

This course is suitable for the adventurous who are also interested in the roots of paintings.

Winifred Nicholson and the Window (archive)

Oil / Landscape / Still Life

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Alice
Mumford

View Alice’s Work

“The school of painting is an oasis; a place to share ideas, enthusiasm and adventures into painting. Teaching has helped me to translate my thoughts and reflections about art into practical courses. In doing this I have learnt so much and shared in that adventure. It’s an opportunity to pass on the wonderful sense of being part of a bigger ‘family’ of painters.”

What to Bring

You will receive a comprehensive handbook on setting up ready for the course covering equipment and materials. We will guide you on how best to set up in your own home environment whatever that might be from the kitchen to the studio.

Timings and Breaks

Each live session lasts two and a half hours 5pm – 7.30pm (London time). If you are based in the UK you will then have the following day before the next Zoom session to work on your exercises.

IT Equipment

You will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. A phone is not ideal as you will struggle to see enough. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.

FAQs

Online Broadcast

How can I get help in choosing a course?

Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180

Do I need a webcam/any equipment?

For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and no webcam or microphone is needed as you just need to be able to see/hear hosts and you can communicate using the chat function. You can watch using a PC, Smart TV or tablet. A phone isn’t ideal as you will struggle to see enough unless you can miracast to a screen or smart TV.

For the longer online courses on Zoom you will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. If you have a PC without camera or speakers, you can purchase a plug and play webcam for approx £25 which connects to a usb port. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.

All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.

I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link

You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact [email protected]. You can use a PC or tablet or even cast from your phone to watch on your Smart TV.

I paid for the session but missed it, how can I watch?

Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.

Studio Courses

How can I get help in choosing a course?

Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180

How do I get my work home?

Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and the school has plastic folders available in our shop for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.

For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home.

What do I need to bring?

Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.

What do I do for lunch?

Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

What times do courses run?

Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.

Weekend Courses run 10am – 4pm on the first day but the final day starts at 9.30 and ends at 3.30 with a short lunch break to enable people to get home that evening.


Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?

The School is a very friendly and welcoming place for all ages and experience. Our drop-in life classes and August half-day workshops are ideal for those wanting to have a go for the first time. Most of our longer courses are also fine for novices.

If any of the courses do need a bit of experience we flag this up in the brochure and on the website.

Booking a Course

How can I reserve a place?

We will hold a provisional reservation for 24 hours if you give us a call whilst you find accommodation. Otherwise please book online or by telephone 01736 797180.

You can reserve a place with a £100 deposit; balance is due 12 weeks before course start date.

About St Ives

Where do I park?

The nearest long stay public car parks are the Island and Barnoon Long Stay Car Park, both a 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at Trenwith Car Park by the leisure centre and walk down into town. If you don’t fancy the walk up the hill at the end of the day there is a shuttle bus which runs from outside the cinema.

How do I get there?

Public Transport: If you are coming from further afield the main train line runs into St Erth which is a 15 min taxi ride away or you can take the St Ives Bay Line which runs approx. every 30 minutes. The School is a 10 minute walk from St Ives station.

Driving: M5 will take you to Exeter where we recommend that you take the A30 across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, leave the A30 at St Erth roundabout for St Ives. Turn right at the second roundabout. This road will take you through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives.

Where can I stay?

St Ives has a huge selection of hotels, guest houses and self catering accommodation to choose from. Please browse the art holidays St Ives section on our website and give us a call if you would like any help.

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